Top 15 Scenic Train Rides in Italy

1.Bernina Red Train, Swiss Alps & St Moritz From Milan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,954 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $168Our pick

Spend about 12 hours traveling from Milan to St. Moritz and Tirano by coach and the Bernina Red Train. You’ll stop near Lake Como, explore St. Moritz, then cross the Alps on a second-class train ticket. Guides such as Sabrina, Monica, and Maria Cristina are often praised for clear commentary. Bring snacks, a passport, and patience for the long return ride.

“Long day but very enjoyable! Views were spectacular! We had light snow so it added to the dramatic views.”

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2.Swiss Alps Bernina Red Train and St.Moritz Tour from Milan

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,369 reviews · 12 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $179

Travel from Milan by coach to St. Moritz, then ride the second-class Bernina Red Train through the Bernina Pass to Tirano. You’ll see glaciers, high Alpine lakes, spiral tunnels, and the Brusio Viaduct. English guiding is guaranteed, but seating is first come, first served and the day can run 12.5 hours.

“What an awesome experience. This was my wife and I first time in Italy and Switzerland…. What a great way to see it. The tour guide and bus driver were amazing, friendly, knowledgeable and professional. It was well worth our time and money. I definitely recommend this tour.”

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3.Skip-the-Line Pompeii Express Tour by Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,038 reviews · 2 hours · from $63

Travel from Sorrento to Pompeii by local train, enter with a skip-the-line ticket, and tour the ruins for two hours with an English-speaking guide. Guides such as Gino, Mena, Roberta, and Carlos bring the forum, villas, market, and ancient streets to life. Afterward, stay longer or return to Sorrento on the included train ticket.

“We loved our tour through Pompeii. It was easy to find our guide and Gino was just the best! We learned so much and his stories are really entertaining! Would really recommend this tour as you learn so much more with a guide than just walking around yourself. Our son Yannik made a friend for life in Gino. Thank you!”

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4.Rome to Pompeii Guided Tour with Wine & Lunch by High Speed Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,379 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $239

Meet at Rome Termini, ride first class to Naples, and join a guide for Pompeii’s bakeries, baths, homes, and plaster casts. After about two hours at the ruins, visit a family-friendly winery on Mount Vesuvius for five or six wine samples, antipasti, pasta, and dessert. Groups can reach 20 people.

“I always wanted to see Pompeii, so that the excursion from Rome fit in perfectly with our plans. The excursion was well planned, no glitches. Pompeii was fascinating seeing it in real life. The wine tasting was a pleasant way to end the tour. It gave us a chance to socialize with the other members of the tour. Fabricio and Carla were great!”

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5.From La Spezia: Shore Excursion to Cinque Terre by Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 959 reviews · 7 hours · from $70

Travel by train from La Spezia to Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, and Monterosso with an English- or Spanish-speaking tour leader. You get free time in each village, a Cinque Terre train pass, and advice on food, beaches, and photo spots. Guides such as Lara, Katerina, and Linda help keep the group moving on this scenic but demanding seven-hour day.

“It was great and even though it rained in the afternoon it was a great experience and Thankyou to Linda whom guided us. She is an asset to your team”

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6.Guided tour of Pompeii skip-the-line and round-trip train

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 811 reviews · 1 day · from $49

Meet at Napoli Centrale, collect your train and entrance tickets, then ride about 40 minutes to Pompeii. A live guide, often praised guides such as Maria, Anna, or Bernadetta, leads a two-hour walk among frescoed houses, baths, theaters, and temples. Return to Naples by train at your own pace.

“I'm so glad I did this tour with a proper guide. She also gave pointers for buildings to check out after our tour ended and one of those houses was my favourite of the day. It is miraculous to be able to walk around such an intact ancient city! Getting to and from Naples by train is not a problem and the Instazione staff ensure you get there on time!”

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7.Intimate Small-Group Bernina UNESCO Scenic Train on Swiss Alps

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 619 reviews · 12 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $211

Start at Milan Central Station for a full-day journey through Lake Como, Valtellina, and the Swiss Alps. Your English-speaking guide, often Luca, Silvia, or Paola, handles the connections while you ride the Bernina train from Tirano toward the high Alpine pass, then stop in St. Moritz before returning to Milan.

“Ilaria was a great guide and Mario our driver was always where we needed him to be. I was hesitant to take such a long tour but was very glad we did. Not a ton to do in St Moritz but the journey getting there is what it is all about.”

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8.Ostia Antica Guided Half-Day Trip by Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 486 reviews · 4 hours · from $58

Travel from Rome’s Piramide station to Ostia Antica with an English-speaking guide and a group of up to 12. Spend about three hours among Roman streets, baths, taverns, warehouses, mosaics, public washrooms, and an amphitheater. Guides such as Rob, Cat, Alberto, Laura, and Caterina bring daily Roman life into focus, with time afterward for the museum, modern Ostia, or the beach.

“Ostia Antica is a very special and unique place, made even more enjoyable by our incredible guide Cat. She was friendly, efficient, interesting and highly knowledgeable. Cat made the whole experience so much better.”

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9.Pompeii Tour with Wine and Lunch by High Speed Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 485 reviews · from $239

Leave Rome Termini with an ItaliaTours escort, reach Naples by high-speed train, then ride by private air-conditioned coach to Pompeii. A 2.5-hour guided visit covers bakeries, baths, homes, shops, and plaster casts before four wine tastings and a farm-to-table lunch near Mount Vesuvius. Guides such as Antonio, Felicia, and Vincenzo have earned especially warm praise.

“An ecelent day trip to Pompeii. Our tour guide was amazing, full of energy and information. The highlight of the tour was seeing current excavation from a walking platform above the dig area. Watching the restoration artists painstakingly and with great precision releasing the artwork from the grips of the fallen ash was something I will never forget.”

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10.Conti Vecchi Salt Flats Train and Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 484 reviews · 2 hours · from $14Best value

Spend two hours at the working Conti Vecchi Saltworks near Cagliari. Walk through the museum and old salt worker buildings, watch historical films, then ride an accessible train into the Santa Gilla Basin. Expect an Italian guided experience, flamingos, white salt mountains, and a close look at salt production.

“While we do understand Italian our native tongue is English hence booking an English tour, with two guides, Italian and English, the Italian version of the salt flats tour provided two if not three times more information. The English version was short, very short and delivered after the location had past. The guided tour of the buildings which was taken separately however was very good in comparison.”

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11.Day Trip to Venice by High-Speed Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 352 reviews · from $309

This long but well-organized day trip takes you from Rome Termini to Venice by high-speed train, with a Vaporetto ride, guided orientation, free time, and a Venetian Spritz with cicchetti. Guides such as Graziella, Antonella, Almudena, and Jacob have earned praise for clear instructions and friendly help.

“everything was great especially our guide Graziella. she was simply awesome. took care of the whole group. suggestions galore. we were not disappointed. ty so much Graziella”

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12.Caserta Palace Ticket and Train with Audioguide

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 348 reviews · from $39

Travel from Naples to Caserta by train if selected, then explore the UNESCO-listed Royal Palace, royal apartments, chapel, throne room, and 120-hectare park at your own pace. Priority entry saves time, while the optional smartphone audio guide explains the rooms, sculptures, pools, waterfalls, and English Garden.

“Great combo for a morning/afternoon visit to such a photogenic (and cinematic) location in Campania. inStazione provided detailed communication and clear instructions along with train and entry ticket downloads via WhatsApp. They also provided the option of downloading apps for audio guides although I preferred to make use of the attraction's own audio guide option (similarly priced). Caserta is one amazing location to experience inside and out, from its expansive gardens to its beautiful royal apartments. I came to this location with a one-track mind as I mainly wanted to witness the staircase and central hall used as interiors for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, which doubled…”

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13.Pompeii and Naples Day Trip by High-Speed Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 234 reviews · from $259

Meet your ItaliaTours representative at Rome Termini, then ride to Naples in about 70 minutes. Explore Pompeii with an English-speaking guide, eat pizza at a local restaurant, and see Naples landmarks including Posillipo, Piazza del Plebiscito, Castel dell’Ovo, and the Spanish Quarter. Expect a long day with plenty of walking.

“The tour group was very professional from the start. They answered my messages straight away when I sent them, they sent very clear instructions and they were waiting at the said time at the meeting point. The guide Rosa in Naples was very helpful and had great information, she was very thorough making sure that the group was still together at every step of the way.”

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14.Positano & Amalfi Coast Day Trip by Train & Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 225 reviews · from $282

Travel from Rome to Salerno by high-speed train, then follow the Amalfi Coast by ferry to Positano and Amalfi. You get about 2.5 hours in Positano and 1.5 hours in Amalfi, with a small group of up to 15 people. Guides such as Graziella, Almu, Anto, and Valentina handle the connections and offer practical local tips.

“The day trip was wonderful!!! Getting the time to see both Positano and Almafi was great!!”

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15.Venice and Verona Full-Day Tour by Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 217 reviews · from $180

Travel from Milan to Verona and Venice with an English- or Spanish-speaking tour leader. Walk past Juliet’s balcony, Castelvecchio, Saint Mark’s Square, the Basilica, and the Bridge of Sighs, with free time to explore. Guides such as Gaia, Chiara, Laura, Hajar, and Amato have led recent departures. Expect a fast, 13.5-hour day and plenty of walking.

“Had a fantastic time (our original trip was cancelled 2 days before) got to see Venice at last with added bonus of Verona. Laura our guide went out of her way to help with anything and everything. Also gave interesting facts along the way.”

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